The effect of random variations of structure parameters on photonic band gaps of one-dimensional plasma photonic crystals

The electromagnetic properties of one-dimensional plasma photonic crystals influenced by random perturbation of structure parameters are studied through transfer matrix method in the paper. The random perturbation of thicknesses of layers as well as plasma frequency of layers can influence the electromagnetic properties of one-dimensional plasma photonic crystal. The random perturbation of thicknesses of layers tremendously impacts the band structure of one-dimensional plasma photonic crystals in high frequency domain. The random perturbation of plasma frequency, however, contributes to the moving of a cutoff frequency in the low frequency domain. The position of the defect mode of one-dimensional plasma photonic crystal randomly moves due to the random perturbations. The effect of random perturbation of plasma frequency is more significant than that of random perturbation of thickness of layers, which alters not only the transmittance but also the position of the defect mode. An improved quality factor and a shortened moving distance of the defect mode are both acquired by increasing the period number. And then this work may provide a crude but useful instrument in analyzing disordered 1DPPCs.

Research Highlights► The electromagnetic properties of one-dimensional plasma photonic crystals influenced by random perturbation of structure parameters are studied through transfer matrix method. ► The random perturbation of thicknesses of layers impacts the band structure of one-dimensional plasma photonic crystals in high frequency domain. ► The effect of random perturbation of plasma frequency alters the transmittance and the position of the defect mode. ► An improved quality factor and a shortened moving distance of the defect mode are both acquired by increasing the period number.